Who Invented the High Five?

I just read that the "high five"  was spontaneously invented by Glenn Burke, an African-American baseball player. Burke played for the Dodgers and in 1977 he ran onto the field, offering the first "high five" to congratulate Dusty Baker who just hit a home run.  Moments later, when Burke hit his first major league home run, Baker returned the favor and congratulated him with the second "high five."

Now that celebratory act, performed by athletes, fans and  normal everyday people throughout the world, is taught to toddlers even before they can count to five.

The high five is certainly seen as an expression of machismo -- a sign of virility, hipness, and real manhood. Ironically, Glenn Burke, its inventor, was also the first major league baseball player to openly discuss his homosexuality.

Now who invented the Wave? Probably someone(s) from the Midwest.

Comments

[Brian Yamabe]

Krazy George Henderson invented the wave. Here's the wikipedia entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krazy_George_Henderson
Why someone from the Midwest?

[Danno]

Machismo?

Naaah. The Chest Bump is the celebratory gesture most grounded in Machismo.

[Donovan]

"The high five is certainly seen as an expression of machismo -- a sign of virility, hipness, and real manhood. Ironically, Glenn Burke, its inventor, was also the first major league baseball player to openly discuss his homosexuality."

That's only ironic if you believe all gay men are the stereotypes you see on tv, which we definitely are not.